Profurl boom

[Markhunter1097]

I have a profurl in boom furling system which is about 15 old, unfortunately a wild gybe cracked the boom end at the gooseneck. It was able to be repaired temporally with stainless strops and rivets.
Discussions with profurl over a replacement have now come to nothing, they did make an upgrade kit to replace the one I had, yet now have stopped making it completely.
Leaves me in a fix, do I replace the whole system, or is there a way to repair this boom?
Is there anyone out there that has had a similar issue and solved it? If so please let me know the solution.
Thx.

[capngeo]

I fabricated a new gooseneck on a Profurl (mine)... to bad you're in OZ, or I'd fix yours.

I would thing any welding/machine shop can fix you up WAY more cheaply than replacing the boom and modifying the sail.

[Markhunter1097]

Originally Posted by capngeo

I fabricated a new gooseneck on a Profurl (mine)... to bad you're in OZ, or I'd fix yours.

I would thing any welding/machine shop can fix you up WAY more cheaply than replacing the boom and modifying the sail.

The previous owner told me the he had already changed the gooseneck fitting, what is now cracked is the cast alloy boom end that holds the mandrel In place. I'm not sure if that can be welded, maybe worth a go though. Thanks

[Lagoon4us]

Looking at our boom and trying to imagine your damage i cannot see anything there that couldn't be repaired or fabricated anew. These castings have a silicon content and are good to weld.

[Markhunter1097]

here are a few photos of the issue.

[Lagoon4us]

Not an issue to repair it, a competent welder would handle it ok, get it bead blasted first and when you get it back round those sharp square corners off before painting, it helps reduce further cracking. Have welded similar castings many times,...

[Markhunter1097]

Thanks for the welding advice, I will give that a go. Now to get it all off!
Rgds

[Lagoon4us]

That's cool, pulling gear like that apart gives you the "knowledge" lol.
We are in Gladstone for 2 more weeks before going back to Croatia where are you?

[Markhunter1097]

The boat is in pittwater sydney; we did the damage racing at hamilton island last year after the boom brake failed on a gybe in 30 knts. I would have grannied yet there was no room to do so.
Gladstone to Croatia? either pirate ally or you go against the wind!

[Lagoon4us]

Originally Posted by Markhunter1097

The boat is in pittwater sydney; we did the damage racing at hamilton island last year after the boom brake failed on a gybe in 30 knts. I would have grannied yet there was no room to do so.
Gladstone to Croatia? either pirate ally or you go against the wind!

Boeing's point well, fast too!!!! Yer we re-join our cat there...

[bstreep]

Please let us know how this goes. We have the same unit...

Also, what kind of boom brake failed?

[Markhunter1097]

The boom brake was a McIntyre one, it could have been user error and not the brake itself, yet one of the legs flicked up and jammed against the boom.
I have replaced it with a 'gybe easy' which works well.

[Markhunter1097]

Thanks for the welding advice, I got Rigtech here in Sydney to weld it up and they have done a great job. The failure cause was the little lug on the side broke first then

[Markhunter1097]

Opps hit the send button too quick. Once that alloy lug broke that is when the other cracks appeared. We reinforced a lot of the attachment points and used stainless for the lugs, attached are a few pics
Rgds
Mark

[Lagoon4us]

Ok that's great, good luck with the boom, we love ours it's a far better system than slab reefing in our opinion. We have electric winches which makes the rig workable for my wife... Cheers